Posts by Jeffrey McAdams
What NYC Tenants Should Know About Bedbugs
There are few things more disgusting or distressing than a bedbug infestation. That’s why New York specifically has laws to protect tenant’s rights to a bedbug-free environment. Here’s what you need to know. Your Rights If Your Unit Has Bedbugs If you have bedbugs, your landlord has 30 days to correct this problem. It’s considered…
Read MoreWhat Are the Classes of Housing Violations in NYC?
Landlords have a responsibility to provide safe, well-maintained homes. While the city does not enforce minor repairs, it does require landlords to adhere to housing codes. These codes are enforced by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development Violation (HPD). If they do not, they may be issued one of three types of violations. A…
Read MoreHow to Get Your Apartment’s Rental History in NYC
A rental history can help you in several different ways. For one, it can help you determine if your apartment is rent-stabilized. It can also help you argue against outrageous rent increases, even if your apartment isn’t rent-stabilized. Seeing the history might also give you an idea of how often rent increases and by how…
Read MoreCan a New York Landlord Evict You for Moral Reasons
You spend the night with your significant other. Your landlord tells you they will evict you for having sex before marriage unless you agree to stop seeing your significant other on their property. Can they do it? Or you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and your landlord catches wind of your orientation. Can…
Read MoreWhat is Heat Season in New York City?
Your landlord has certain obligations to make sure your apartment is livable. Those obligations include providing hot water year-round and heating during “heat season.” Heat season runs from October 1st to May 31st each year. We’re still a few months out…but knowing your rights is important before heat season begins. For one thing, landlords in…
Read MoreWhat to Do If Your New York Landlord Won’t Make Repairs
Recently, residents of a building in the Bronx went on a rent strike. Their landlord refused to fix rodent and cockroach infestations, peeling paint, leaking pipes, broken cabinets, refrigerators, outlets, and stoves. They also filed a lawsuit to get the landlord to address the issues. There are even worse stories out there. Some tenants in…
Read MoreHow to Form a Tenant Organization in NYC
In recent news, New York City tenants marched by the thousands to protest rental conditions in the city, bearing signs like “Cap the Rent” and “The Rent is Too Damn High.” Collective action is powerful, but marching isn’t your only option. You could also form a tenant organization to champion your interests. In New York,…
Read MoreTenant Eviction Defenses in New York City
When you receive an eviction notice, your landlord accuses you of one of two things. The landlord is either claiming you did not pay the rent, or they’re claiming you violated the lease. In New York, it is possible to challenge an eviction on many grounds, but you’ll have to move fast. You’ll need help…
Read MoreCan You Sublet Your NYC Apartment?
Unless you live in public housing or receive Section 8, it’s generally permissible to sublet your apartment in New York City. However, subletting is governed by several laws you should be aware of. You Must Request Permission Most leases will not allow you to sublet an apartment without written permission. The law will not allow…
Read MoreAre You Eligible for an NYC Rent Freeze?
If you are a senior citizen or have a disability, you may qualify for the NYC rent freeze program. Your apartment must be rent-controlled, rent-stabilized, hotel-stabilized, or Mitchell-Lama rent-regulated. You do not need your landlord’s permission to apply for the program, and your landlord may not prevent you from participating. Public housing units are not…
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